Blocks - OTPlan

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Steps:

Lay a flat Styrofoam block on your table.
Use markers to draw a simple robot or house shape on the top.
Poke several small holes along the lines of your drawing using a pencil.
Pick up a long bolt and push it through one of the holes.
Reach under the foam with your other hand.
Use your fingertips to find the end of the bolt without looking.
Twist a nut onto the bolt until it is tight against the foam.
Repeat this for every hole until your structure is full of metal parts!
Stack a few wooden blocks on the bolts to see what you can build.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small nuts and bolts are a choking hazard. Ensure the pencil used for poking holes is handled safely.

Post-It Path Finder

Steps:

Place a long strip of masking tape on a clear floor area to create a straight ‘tightrope’ path.
Stick several colorful Post-Its on the wall at your child’s eye level along the length of the tape path.
Ask your child to stand at the start of the tape line and hold a single block with both hands.
Challenge your child to walk slowly along the tape line without letting their feet step off the sticky path.
While they are walking, call out a color that matches one of the Post-Its on the wall.
Your child must find the matching color with their eyes and point to it with one hand without stopping their walk.
Repeat the process until they reach the end of the line, calling out different colors as they go.

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the floor is clear of toys and that the walking path is a safe distance away from sharp furniture corners.

The Newspaper Crane Challenge

Steps:

Help your child roll a large sheet of newspaper into a tight, long rod.
Use several pieces of masking tape to keep the paper rod from unrolling.
Tape a small box firmly to one end of the long newspaper rod.
Scatter several small blocks on the floor in front of your child.
Ask your child to hold the handle end of the rod with both hands.
Challenge them to reach out and use the box to scoop up one block.
Have them lift the block and carry it to a target box on the floor.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the play area is clear of sharp furniture while your child moves the long rod.

Stuffed Animal Delivery Drive

Steps:

Use your masking tape to mark a large parking square on a smooth floor or rug.
Place your child’s favorite stuffed animal inside the basket.
Ask your child to add several blocks to the basket to make it heavy for the delivery.
Have your child stand behind the basket and place both hands on the rim.
Encourage your toddler to push the basket slowly across the room toward the tape square.
Cheer for them when they park the delivery right inside the lines!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small blocks and tape. Always supervise your child closely and keep small parts away from the mouth.

The Foil Pan Hockey Challenge

Steps:

Use masking tape to mark a small goal at one end of the pan.
Place one marble at the opposite end of the pan.
Give your child a craft stick to use as a hockey stick.
Ask them to hold the pan with their helper hand to keep it still.
Use the other hand to push the marble toward the goal.
Navigate around obstacles made of tape or blocks!
See how many goals they can score in one minute.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise children during play and keep small parts away from younger siblings.